COVER REVEAL!! OF GAEA BY VICTORIA ESCOBAR

 

Of Gaea

Book #1 in the Of Legacies Series

By Victoria Escobar

Publication Date: March 20, 2013

 

Blurb:

Her choice will change the world. 

She hated the wheelchair. Hated the way it made her feel less than what she was. Most of all she hated not being able to do all the things she used to. Ari had been a track and field star, an archery champion and an Eskrima pro. Now she was confined to a wheelchair slowly dying inside from its restraints. 

Medical science wasn’t working. The tests, the drugs, the therapies were all useless and a waste of time. She was tired of wasting her time; she was tired of failure. It was time to look away from the obvious and try something unconventional.

 Nothing was ever free and that included miracles. Abruptly, Ari finds herself tangled in a web of lies, questioning everything she’s ever known as truth. Never had she believed she’d be thrown headfirst into a world of good and evil, magic and Gods.

 Trapped in the middle of a war she had never known existed both parties demanded her allegiance. Ari was a catalyst that could change all the rules of the Earth. But when the time comes to make a choice will she be strong enough to know right from wrong?

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16164155-of-gaea

Once upon a time, long, long ago, Victoria was born in sunny Florida, except it wasn’t sunny; it was the middle of the night. Midnight actually, well, two minutes past, but she tried really hard for midnight.

​Victoria has been to twenty one schools in her lifetime. With all the continual switching around, she’s relied on her imagination for friends and books for close companions. In high school she remained apart from the whole and spent most of her time in the library either reading or writing.

​Currently, Victoria has set down roots in New York with her family. She still reads and writes every day. She finished her debut novel Of Gaea in the winter of 2012 and is working on the sequel and many other projects.

Author Links:

Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/V.Escobar.Writes

Twitter-https://twitter.com/VEscobarWrites

Goodreads-http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6370082.Victoria_Escobar

Website-http://cvescoba8.wix.com/victoriaescobar

National Self-Injury Awareness Month

Hey, Kittens. Today is National Self-Injury Awareness Day. I was contacted by the incredible blogger/author, RaeBeth McGee-Buda over at The Writing World. She asked if I would be willing to spread this incredibly important information and I agreed. Please take the time to read and share! Thanks!

~Brandy~

Welcome to The Writing World and our way of bringing awareness to such an important day. For those who don't know today is National Self Injury Awareness Day.

What is Self Injury (Self Harm)?

Self harm is any deliberate, non-suicidal behavior that inflicts physical injury to a persons body. It's essentially a way to cope that enables one to deal with intense emotional distress and creates a calming sensation. It can also be used as a way to "awaken" a person who feels numb or dissociated with the world around them.

Self harm has an immediate effect which creates an instant relief but it's only temporary. Any underlying emotions still remain. Over time, self injury can become a persons automatic response to ordinary strains of life and the severity of self harm can increase.

Self injury can affect everyone from all types of lifestyles. The age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or personal strength doesn't matter.

There are certain forms of self injury that are talked about more than others but if one has found a unique way to hurt themselves, it's still self injury. When one self harms, there's not a severity level or scale. Any type of self harm is "bad" enough for a person to get help. Every person who suffers from self harm deserves help. Some people often feel they don't deserve help and it can feel scary. It is essential to get immediate medical attention if a self inflicted wound seems serious.

Please be aware that self injury is normally a non-suicidal behavior and is NOT a way for a person to get attention. It's an emotional condition that deserves attention. Emotional distress and stress can lead to self injury and can eventually lead into suicide if not treated professionally.  

Ways to Get Help

 

If you self harm and are thinking of seeking help it can be really hard at first. One moment it may seem like it's easy to talk about at one moment and much harder the next. The first step you can take is to talk to someone you trust. This can be a close friend, family member, teacher, or counselor.  Remember when talking to this trusted person, it may upset them to hear that you self harm. They aren't judging you. It may upset them because they care for you and it hurts to know that you've turned to self harm for your emotional support. Give your trusted person time to "digest" what you are telling them. Then the both of you can create a plan for recovery. As an example, where to go for medical attention before a more serious problem occurs.

My Child Self Injures....What Next?

The first discovery of your child using self harm as their coping mechanism can be hard. You may feel a mixture of shock, anger, guilt, worry, and this can upset you. Try to remember not to panic or over react. Your initial reaction will have a great impact on your child. It may affect how much they're willing to tell you or even stop them from opening up to you. Each situation is different. The way you react can depend on several factors, which include your child's age, reason behind their self harm, and the way you found out. (Example: They came to you or you discovered their self injury by accident.) 

You may want to consider educating your self as much as you can on the subject to get a better understanding. Remember not to show disgust or anger, which can increase your child's emotional distress. From the start of you finding out, remember that you are NOT to blame for your child self harming.

Be sure you make it clear to your child that you are there to support him/her in any way. Acknowledge that self injury is a secretive behavior and the fact that you know about it can be overwhelming. Your child may need time to get used to the idea that you know before talking to anyone else.

Remember to focus on the underlying problem and not the self harm. Self harm takes time to give up. Be prepared for many months of recovery and don't ask them to stop. Do not prevent them from self injury by forcing them to stop and removing the tools they have come to rely on to cope. Before this can be done, a healthier coping mechanism must be found first.  

Offer to take your child to a doctor and even suggest your support by showing you're willing to go with them. Do not force your child. If they decline the offer of your presence at the doctor, respect their privacy and confidentiality. Never ask your child to see their self harm injuries unless you think it may need medical attention. This will embarrass them and cause them to become more secretive about their situation. Remember you want them to open up, not push you away!

Do not treat your child any different. They are still the same person you knew and loved before you found out about their disorder. Never treat your child any different around others. This too can embarrass them.  Encourage your child to seek healthier ways once a medical professional is involved and their openly talking about their self harm.

  

To learn more about Self Injury please visit the following website.  

National Self Harm Network

Looking to help spread the word about Self Harm?  The following are great books to look up and recommend to someone who may self harm or to anyone dealing with self harm in their family.

1. Silenced by RaeBeth McGee-Buda 

Paperback Available on Amazon.com

Ebook Version available for Nook and Kindle

 Amber Brown spent her entire existence believing Dave was her father. When her mother reveals this is untrue, she goes through an emotional spiral with depression. It's hard for her to believe her mother had lied to her all this time.A move to a new home and town causes Amber to be consumed by her "darkness" and reverts to cutting to free herself from her pain.

When Casey, her new friend enters her life, she introduces Amber to parties, drugs, and Amber's new boyfriend Landon. The secret of cutting begins to take affect on Amber as she tries to hide it from her friends and family. In the midst of everything, Amber has the desire to find out who her biological father is.

Follow Amber through her trials of depression and cutting, along with the discovery of love.

 

 2. Cut by Patricia McCormick

Available in Paperback and Kindle

 A teenager’s attempt to maintain psychological integrity—the maladaptive coping mechanisms she uses as a way to stay alive and her path to recovery.

 

3. Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

Available in Paperback and Kindle

Kendra, a sexual abuse survivor, cuts to cope with the pain, but she doesn't remember the identity of who abused her. Kendra makes a friend in Meghan, and falls in love with her. When Kendra's abuser starts threatening her, she must find a way to face her past and stop hurting herself--before it's too late.

Original Post can be found here: The Writing World

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY GIRL, LISA!! (@TastyBookTours)

Happy Birthday, Lisa!!

Tasty Book Tours

BOOK TOUR BLAST AND GIVEAWAY! TEMPTATION BY K.M. GOLLAND

EXCERPT FROM AMAZON:

This book is for mature audiences 17+ It contains explicit language and sexual content.

Sometimes being happily married and completely content is not at all what it seems.
This is what 35 year old, happily married mother of two, Alexis Summers finds out when she decides it is time to return to work. After being a stay-at-home Mum for the past nine years, Alexis now realises a complete career change is just what she needs.

She becomes a Concierge Attendant in a prestigious hotel in Melbourne, working for the owner, Bryce Clark. He resides in the penthouse, is extremely hot, and is a man who always gets what he wants, and what he wants is Alexis. She does a relatively good job at resisting Bryce at first but the undeniable chemistry, sexual tension and playfulness between the two of them is intense. He has copious amounts of money, sex appeal and above all else, is a genuinely nice guy. Bryce has been waiting for his one true love to come along, and he is positive that one true love is Alexis.
There is one problem, she is happily married to Rick, and no matter how strong her feelings are for Bryce, she is adamant she will not cheat. She draws a line in the sand but finds it increasingly hard not to cross. Will she succumb to Temptation?

REVIEW:

Now, I want everyone to remember that MY reviews are MY opinions and I am not going to like every book that is passed to me.  I am human and what I may like you might not and vice versa.  That being said it was SUPER hard for me to get into this book.  The idea of a married mom having an affair is hard but could be considered acceptable if her husband was abusive or something like that.  Alexis didn't have those problems.  She had what amounts to a good marriage. 

Don't get mad at me, Kittens.  I didn't think it was a horrible book or anything like that.  The author, K.M. Golland, tells a good story and keeps the reader entertained.  The passion is in the book and so is the equisite tension that you expect to see in this book.  Will she, won't she? 

Alexis has been a stay at home mom for a long time and that can be very lonely.  I think the attraction that she feels for Bryce is real but you can be attracted and not act on it.  I am not going to spoil the story for you.  This is one that I think you need to read and form your own thoughts on.  I think that we feel a connection with Rick too.  He hasn't done anything wrong but seems to be getting a raw deal. 

I am looking forward to seeing where this story develops and goes with the next book, Satisfaction.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AVYL612/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AVYL612&linkCode=as2&tag=beyondwordsbookstours-20

 Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/264382?ref=bestbookslikefiftyshadesofgrey

AUTHOR BIO:

 

K.M. Golland was born and raised in Melbourne Australia. She studied Legal Practice for two years, and worked as a Land Conveyancer for four years before putting her career on hold to raise two beautiful children. She always had a love of reading, and decided rather than returning to the Legal Industry, she would become a Writer, publishing her debut novel Temptation (Book 1 in The Temptation Series).

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/temptationseries 

Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860161.K_M_Golland

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyGolly

 

Giveaway:

 

The author is giving away an ecopy of Temptation to a single commentor chosen from the tour.

REVIEW BY SHAE: SEDUCED BY PAIN BY KIMBERLY KINRADE

EXCERPT FROM AMAZON:

“Their passion will destroy them.  Only true love can save them.”

"Hope is a fragile thing, yet strangely enduring. It hides in the crevices of pain, burrowing deep until unseen, for fear that sorrow, in its rage, will devour hope's desperate hold on the heart.

REVIEW:

This book was purchased by the reviewer and she was not compensated for her review.

Seduced by Pain is the second book in Rose’s story. It is hotter than the first. Kinrade creates hot erotic romance. This book starts just as the other book ended. There is no time lapse. The road for Rose and Derek is full of struggles and triumphs. Rose finds the answers to many questions she has about her life and her “darkness.” She learns what family means as the power source of the Shifters becomes threatened and new allies are formed. Rose begins to see what her future could be like if only she can make it through.

This second book has a cliffhanger just as the first and the third in this Trilogy is due out in March 2013- Seduced by Power (Rose's Story, Book 3).

~Shae~

Rated 4 Stars

BLOG TOUR POST AND GIVEAWAY!! Falling For You by Heather Thurmeier (@TastyBookTours, #giveaway)

Blurb:

Newly single Cassidy Quinn is thrilled to be a contestant on the new reality dating show The One. But her excitement turns to horror when the gorgeous bachelor turns out to be her ex-boyfriend. Seeing Brad again makes Cassidy realize she might not be as “over him” as she thought—and then she meets hunky cameraman Evan Burke

After watching his brother lose his wife in a tragic accident, Evan vows never to fall in love. But following Cassidy around as her personal cameraman makes him question his decision, and resisting her gets harder with every sunbathing, bikini-wearing day.

Cassidy and Evan begin a forbidden affair while her ex-boyfriend tries to win her heart back one groping, awkward moment at a time. If Cassidy can manage to stop falling off horses (literally), stop falling onto her ex-boyfriend, the bachelor (yes, literally), and stop falling in love with backstage playboy Evan, she might still make it through the show without becoming a tabloid sensation.

But soon Cassidy must choose between the ex who broke her heart and the cameraman who might never love her back. For Cassidy, this reality show just got real.

EXCERPT:

“Stay still, Corona,” she pleaded, patting the horse on the shoulder. She swung her leg over the horse, determined to successfully complete one dismount before the challenge ended.

Her arms shook as she lowered herself carefully from the saddle, finally giving up their fight part way down. Gravity took her the last few feet and she hit the ground with both feet, stumbling backward a step before bumping into something solid.

“How, Cassidy? How do you always end up in my arms?” Evan’s voice rumbled in her ear, his warm breath on her earlobe making her girly bits tingle.

She found her footing and turned in his arms. She could see the dust and dirt clinging to his five o’clock shadow, his brow beaded with sweat. He desperately needed a shower and there was nothing she could have fantasized about more than being in one with him. Instead, she pushed herself back from him and swallowed her urge to climb him like a jungle gym.

“What can I say? I guess I just keep falling for you,” she said, before her brain caught up to her mouth and she was able to censor herself. 

REVIEW:

I wasn't sure how I was going to like this story.  I am not a fan of reality shows and the dating ones are the worst, in my opinion.  However, Cassidy and Evan's story was hilarious! 

Cassidy is a New York girl who, thanks to her sister, has landed a spot on the new reality show, The One.  When she looks around she feels like she doesn't meet the standards that the other girls represent.  She is floored when she realizes that one of the staff guys is brutally hot and can only imagine what the bachelor guy looks like.  Cassidy knows it's going to be an interesting few weeks, when filming hasn't started and the claws have already come out.  Zoe, the front-runner for the contest, is very condescending in her opinion that Cassidy doesn't belong in front of the camera.

Cassidy decided to do the show for the challenges and adventures.  She is shocked when during the first challenge she is introduced to the bachelor and it is her ex-boyfriend, Brad!  This was a blind-side she wasn't expecting, especially with the brutally hot cameraman, Evan in her line of sight.

What is a girl supposed to do when confronted with a past love and a future love at the same time?  Throw in a reality show, vindictive contestants, a love triangle and you have a kick-ass story!

AUTHOR BIO:

Heather Thurmeier is a lover of strawberry margaritas, a hater of spiders, and a reality TV junkie. She was born and raised in the Canadian prairies, but now lives in upstate New York with her own personal romance hero (aka her husband) and their two little princesses. When she's not busy taking care of the kids and an adventurous puppy named Indy, Heather's hard at work on her next romance novel.

"Heather Thurmeier's hunky heroes and feisty heroines will have you laughing out loud, falling in love ... and coming back for more!" ~ Carly Phillips, NY Times Bestselling Author

"Heather Thurmeier writes sweet, funny romances that capture your heart!" --NYT and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Probst

LINKS:

Website:  http://heatherthurmeier.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/HeatherThurmeierAuthor?ref=hl

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/hthurmeier

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5211580.Heather_Thurmeier

Pinertrest:  http://pinterest.com/hthurmeier/

email:  heatherthurmeier@gmail.com

Amazon buy link:  http://www.amazon.com/Falling-You-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B008PW2XFU/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_2_3EQ

B&N buy link:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/falling-for-you-heather-thurmeier/1112405727?ean=9781440552052

Heather is giving away a $20.00 gift card to Amazon or B&N during the tour!  Click HERE for the giveaway! Make sure you leave a comment and follow the rest of the tour HERE!

REVIEW AND INTRODUCTION OF SHAE! SEDUCED BY INNOCENCE BY KIMBERLY KINRADE

EXCERPT FROM AMAZON:

Liquid fire poured into me, filling me with the intimate sense of him as he leaned in to claim my lips with his own. I reached for him, needing him closer, needing to feel his flesh against mine, but my arms couldn't close the distance between us, which grew wider with each hitched breath. So close to finally feeling something real, something carnal and deep, I cried out in frustration, dropping my hands as he disappeared. My cries deepened into a frenzy of panic and my eyes flew open. I clutched my blanket and stilled myself to calm my racing heart.

Just a dream. Always just a dream.

***

Rose Wintersong didn't have an ordinary upbringing. Raised in what most would call a hippy commune, but what is actually a powerful coven of witches, she never questions the life fate chose for her.

Until she meets Derek O'Conner.

Derek challenges everything Rose believes and forces her to see the secrets hidden beneath the whitewashed walls of her idyllic country life.

Rose knows she should walk away, that the sexy martial arts instructor is bad news bred to create discord in her tight community... but the animal magnetism between them is impossible to fight.

Caught between the passion of first love, and the steady beat of the life she's always known, Rose must choose between the innocence of her youth or the pleasures of womanhood--but lost innocence comes at a price, and Rose harbors a dark secret that could destroy everyone she loves--including Derek.

INTRODUCTION OF OUR REVIEWER:

I have taken on a fellow lover of books to share the love of reviewing with me.  Let's show some love for Shae!

After 20 years, I redeveloped a love for reading or should I say “escaping.” I am a 39 year old Accountant who seems to work all the time. I enjoy what I do but it can be brain warping. In the evenings and weekends, I enjoy escaping into a new world. I fall in love with the characters; I laugh out loud; I cry; I get lost in their world.

I used to be a TV junkie and after receiving a Kindle Fire for my 39th birthday, I started reading again. I have 3 children; Rebecca is a senior, Grant is 7th grader, and Logan is 5th grader. Becca has been a reader since she was able to first read -- Never watching much TV and always in a book. I used to wonder what in the world could be so interesting. Now I remember. She kept on me after getting my kindle to read some of the books that she had loved. I have to admit I have become addicted. I enjoy stand-alone books and series. If I am really into a book, I find myself waking up at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. sometimes wondering what the characters in the books are doing. I can’t help myself but I will have to read until time to get ready for work. Becca will come into my room at night and tell me, “Seriously mom, it is bedtime. Go to bed.” I laugh at her and tell her after I get to the end of the chapter which is what she used to tell me every night.

~Shae~

REVIEW:

A short story packed with intense and immeasurable scenes. This book contains mystery, drama, and romance. I was pulled in quickly and left intrigued throughout the entire book. Kimberly Kinrade writes this book from the different characters points of view. Each chapter is setup so you know what each character is thinking and feeling about the situations they find themselves in.

 Rose is a young woman who feels like the “outcast” of her coven. She is surrounded by family and friends who are also witches, but chooses to live “apart” because she feels she is a danger to them. Her past haunts her. She is forced to deal with her “darkness.” Rose has dreams and desires that increase when she meets a Derek.

 Can she overcome her “darkness” and find love? In the midst of a new relationship, her family is being attacked by their enemy, the Druids/Shifters. She must find hope and make decisions that will affect her life and could change it completely.

 This story will leave you nail-biting and ready to download book 2 in this series. Seduced by Pain (Rose's Story, Book 2).

Rated 4 Stars

REVIEW!! Immortal Ever After (Argeneau Vampires) by Lynsay Sands (@LynsaySands, @avonbooks)

This was an ARC that I received for review. I have been wondering when Anders was going to get his own story and this did not disappoint!

EXCERPT FROM AMAZON!

A kiss doesn’t mean eternity . . .

Valerie Moyer doesn’t believe in vampires—until she is kidnapped by a fanged psychopath! After escaping her bloodthirsty captor, she’s through with creatures of the night. Until she finds herself under the protection of the darkly handsome Anders. Not only is she expected to accept that Anders is immortal, but also that she is the woman destined to be his life mate!

. . . Or does it?

Anders felt a connection to Valerie from the moment he cradled her bruised body in his arms. But before he claims her, he must destroy the vampire who almost stole her from him forever. His job would be easier if Valerie didn’t fight him every step of the way. Still, Anders loves a challenge, and the green-eyed beauty is worth fighting for!

Anders has been an Enforcer for many years and has watched his fellow Enforcers fall victim to life mates one by one. When an unusual 911 call comes in that the Enforcers respond to, Anders is amazed to find he has discovered his life mate.

Valerie has literally just escaped from the house of Hell. She had been kidnapped and held in a cage with several other women for almost 2 weeks. She managed to stab one of her captors and call 911. When she is talking to her rescuers she doesn't know how to explain to them that she was attacked by a psycho vampire. There is no such as thing as vampires, right?

When she is taken back to Lucien and Leigh's house for recovery she doesn't question the kindness of the ones who rescued her and finds that she is quickly falling for the sexy Enforcer, Anders. When they all realize that she is Anders life mate they attempt to show her what he really is like and a very pregnant Leigh makes a great matchmaker!

I don't want to give away too much of this story because I am an avid Lynsay Sands fan and don't want to ruin the story for others.

Rated 4 Bookworms and can't wait to add the paperback to my collection.

REVIEW!! The Story of Rachel by K.D. McLean

Excerpt from Amazon:

Rachel Collins is praying. And not for world peace. Thirty six years old and single, her prayer is self-centered. "Kill me now, Lord," she pleads during her latest attempt to meet Mr. Right via the internet.

She’s not hoping for a billionaire or even a millionaire, just a guy who can strike a spark to her tinder! Is she asking too much? She's a great gal! Just ask her parents! She might be a bit naive about some things, but capable enough- she's a correspondent for a major magazine, after all. So there!

On assignment she meets Michael, 42 years old, also a writer. The attraction is immediate and intense. Rachel, who sees vanilla as only a baking ingredient, enchants him. Michael can whip up some pretty hot delights himself, outside of the kitchen. He introduces a curious Rachel to powerful experiences of sensuality. Her Ladylike sense of propriety engages in a running battle with her now sparked Tinderbox desires.

Michael is an excellent cook and knows how to turn up the heat. Sampling the flavors offered, Rachel experiences humorous hiccups. On a date, Michael ramps up the risqué, resulting in a memorable skirt swirling salsa dance. Rachel's "What the hell, I ain't getting any younger" attitude spurs Michael to take her to the exclusive, adults only club Pandora's. Here, Rachel witnesses even more variations of earthly delights, and begins a lifelong friendship with another guest.

Michael is a realist, convinced that within 90 days, his affair with Rachel will be but another painful memory of loss. He is neither willing nor able to yell 'Geronimo' and fall for her. He can't, and that's that.

Maybe he should just get a damn dog.

This modern, urban, grown up love story is a recipe –three cups romance and one cup of slapdash humor. Blend in spices of eroticism, and beat until smooth.

REVIEW:

I absolutely loved Rachel!  She is the type of woman that everyone ends up friending.  She has that combination of sensual innocence that makes us want to be around her. 

Rachel is a writer working on a piece for her paper.  Her assistant, Brenda, thinks it is hysterical that she is working on an erotic art show.  While at the show, and exposed to art that makes her tingle, she meets Michael.  Michael is everything her body has been craving and the stimulation that her mind demands.  I have to stop here and say that I thought Michael was a total douche in the beginning.  The whole love them and leave them in 90 days thing was a turnoff.  However, as KD draws us deeper into Michael, I understand the devastation and the walls he has erected.  I actually grew to like him by the end of the story, but he is still a douche sometimes! :)

Michael opens her mind up to new possibilities she has never considered and introduces her to BDSM.  *Not described in huge detail so my innocent readers ~wink, wink~ can relax.* When she is introduced to the safe and basic steps of BDSM, Rachel is enthralled and amazed that she craves more.  Michael, who has decided to take his time with Rachel and not rush into sex, is writhing in lust.  Watching Rachel discover the pleasures he can give her is taking him to a whole new level of intimacy. 

When Rachel convinces him to take her to Pandora's, a BDSM club, Michael is not sure what to expect.  Rachel is mesmerized by the sensual beauty of the club and people.  Meeting Annik and Tom, she realizes they are normal people who just like a little more with their relationships.  She discovers that her "tinderbox" loves the idea of what she is seeing. 

This book was great and I really enjoyed it.  I have read it several times now and it gets funnier everytime I read it!  Besides, any book that can make me laugh and cry within moments, is a book that needs to be read.

LINKS:

Blog http://kdmcleanauthor.blogspot.ca

Goodreads Profile http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6620814.K_D_Mclean

The Story of Rachel on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008QF042A

The Story of Rachel on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/258673

~This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.  Romancebookworm is never compensated for reviews.~

FYI, Kittens.  This needs to be added to your Goodreads list, Kindles or Bookshelf!

Rated 4 Bookworms

REVIEW!! THE RED DIARY BY TONI BLAKE (@avonbooks, #avonaddicts)

EXCERPT FROM AMAZON:

The Red Diary, an erotic tale from rising romance star Toni Blake, takes readers on a sensual adventure in a story of seductive retribution.

Lauren Ash keeps a private journal filled with her deepest, most intimate sexual fantasies... When house painter Nick Armstrong finds it, he plans to use the red-hot content to break Lauren’s heart—a proper revenge for the wrongs his family suffered at the hands of Lauren’s father so many years ago.

Racy and fun, intimate and touching, The Red Diary features rich, compelling characters and a suspenseful, passionate escapade that you won’t want to put down.

REVIEW:

Wow!  This story was spicy and I like it!  I was given this book through Avon as part of the Avon Addict program.  I was not compensated for my review.

Lauren Ash comes from money but she works hard for her dad's company.  She is the good girl that everyone thinks is bad.  Since she is the type that needs to be in love to have sex, she keeps a journal of all of her fantasies.  These are not for the faint of heart but since she is the only one that will ever read them she completely bares her soul in her journal.

Nick Armstrong has worked hard to provide for his sister and brother ever since Lauren's dad destroyed his family by buying his father's half of their joint company.  Nick never forgot how far they fell or the consequences of his father's drinking.

When he takes on a painting job at Lauren's house he figures it is the perfect way to extract some revenge.  He never expected to find anything like her red diary and can't resist reading it.  What he reads is hot and he never expected something like that from the little heiress.  Nick digs deep and decides to use her fantasies against her.  He doesn't realize that the person he thought she was is just a mirage for people to see.

This story carries passion to the brink and back again.  I was mesmerized by the emotions that were brought to the forefront and touched by the pain that Nick felt at his father's confession.  How do you ever recover from knowing that your father wanted to destroy you?

This is my first book with this author and I can tell you that it will not be my last.

Rated 3 Bookworms

 

 

BLOG TOUR STOP! GUEST POST AND GIVEAWAY!! Blindsighted Wanderer by E.C. Hibbs

BLURB:

The Wall has long kept Elitland Valley safe from the demons on the other side. For centuries the villagers have avoided speaking of the Wall or the creatures it protects them from.

Upon their return from the annual Country Fayre, the older Atego brothers learn of their father’s passing. When fifteen year old Silas Atego learns the mysterious illness that took his father might have been a curse from a demon, his need for answers draws him to the one place he must not go. The far side of the Wall.

When Silas is still missing days later, his older brother Raphael sets out on his own to bring him home. On his journey, Raphael learns how it was his ancestor who was cursed by a demon creature from the Lake and had the Wall built to keep them out. More desperate than ever to find his brother, his search draws Raphael to the same terrifying barrier.

Along the brothers’ individual travels they face their greatest fears, make lifelong friends, and more importantly, learn the truth of what happened centuries ago.

Blindsighted Wanderer is a tale about how truth and forgiveness will set you free. Where myths are transformed to legends that last a lifetime. The brothers leave their home as desperate boys but return to their family as honorable men.

Blindsighted Wanderer is a young adult fantasy, coming of age story appropriate for readers 12 +.

GUEST POST:

I am always super excited when an author agrees to do a little something extra for my posts.  E.C. Hibbs has been gracious enough to include a guest post!!

I’ll never forget the day in primary school, when I was handed a booklet full of myths about water creatures. Inside was a local folk legend, largely forgotten over the years, which told the tale of an arrogant young man who captured a mysterious water nymph. I immediately fell in love with it and used it as the base for my homework project that week. Then I put it away, and didn’t find it again until about nine years later, when I was thinking about what my next story could be.

I suppose I can break my writing process down into seven stages: ideas, fundamental research, basic planning, secondary research, detailed walkthrough, writing, and then editing it to death. Some of them might get shuffled around a bit – I know I don’t think about them consciously when I’m actually working! But whenever I write any story, I get completely swept away and the world becomes my reality until I type the last word. I actually get a lot of ideas and locations from my dreams; they’re very vivid so it’s reasonably simple for me to expand on them. So I make sure all my preparation is well-organised, and I have some kind of mental “umbilical cord” to keep me grounded.

With every story, however, I always research. To me, getting details right and believable is so important. If there’s one little hiccup which you can tell is improvised, it can upset everything. And I think that’s especially important when dealing with fantasy, because the most otherworldly elements have to be utterly convincing. I knew the setting of Blindsighted Wanderer was going to be medieval-style, but yet avoid the traditional “knights in shining armour” or “kings in castles” slant. So I piled together all the information I could find on normal, everyday life in the thirteenth century. It was important to me that the Elitland should almost have a character of its own, so I actually went back to my A-Level Geography notes on glaciated valleys. Some other things I touched on were Romani customs; lake ecosystems; Middle English language; Alpine transhumance farming; and drystone wall construction.

More often than not, 90% of stuff I research doesn’t even end up in the story, but the knowledge helps me stay confident while writing. I don’t just spend all my time looking through books and the internet, though. If I can, I get out and try to experience it. For Blindsighted Wanderer, I visited the Lake District and Snowdonia National Parks; went to a renaissance music concert; and even practised finding my way around while blindfolded! After all, I couldn’t really write from the POV of a sightless character, and yet be respectful of blindness, unless I know what it was like for myself. That was a very helpful experience; it really made me realise how much you hear and smell when you don’t have the use of your eyes.

But despite all that prep, the actual writing doesn’t take me very long. I always spend much more time on research and editing than I ever do on the narrative itself. I’ll carry on editing, ripping it apart and shuffling it around, until I can honestly see no more plot holes or loose ends. For me, research and editing can each take up to a year or more. So in that respect, Blindsighted Wanderer, from initial idea to completion, took about fourteen years to create.

I think it’s quite ironic that Blindsighted Wanderer’s blog tour is happening in February, because this month marks the 6th anniversary of the first draft. I look back at that version now, and the new manuscript that’s become the final book, and I can barely recognise them. So much has changed and morphed around, they might as well be two different stories. But the basic idea always remained: a young man cursed by a bitter Princess when he pulls her from her underwater home. It’s funny to remember sitting in the eaves of a Victorian cottage, the old booklet in one hand, pen and paper in the other; and meeting these characters properly for the first time.

Thank you so much, E.C.!

REVIEW:

This was a really good YA story and I think it is one that my sons' would enjoy as well.  It is a story about the Atego family and centers on Silas and Raphael.  Their family has been cursed and Silas wants to discover why and attempt to break it.  He sets off on his journey to the wall.  As it becomes apparent that Silas is not coming back, Raphael sets off on his own to find his brother.

I was awed by the story that unfolded in front of me that grasped the nuances of the past, mingled them into the present and forced them out into the future.  These brothers take different paths in the story, just like they would in life and they come out better men for their adventure. 

The author has managed to bring forth a world that is mesmerizing.  Her characters are well-developed, engaging and inspiring.  I loved how there was romance in the story but the story expanded beyond that.  It encompassed all the best parts of a truly great story; family, curses, revenge, love, hatred, and growth are all on display for the world to grasp and enjoy.

Rated 4 Bookworms

Author Bio:

E. C. Hibbs has lived all her life in Cheshire, north-west England. A lover of stories from an early age, she wrote her first 'book' when she was five, and throughout school was a frequent visitor to the younger classes to read her tales to the children. Living so near the coast, she loves anything to do with the sea. She studied Animal Behavior at university and longs to work with marine mammals in the future. As well as nature and animals, she also has a soft spot for history, and loves paying visits to castles, cathedrals and museums. There are many things she could be without, but writing isn't one of them. She carries a pen everywhere, in case an idea appears, and takes pride in still seeing the world as brimming with magic. Besides writing, she reads obsessively, her favorite genres being the classics and all kinds of fantasy. She also enjoys Disney and horror films, practicing Shotokan karate, drawing, archery, and playing with her very cheeky kitten.

Links for EC Hibbs:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/echibbs

Blog: http://echibbs.blogspot.co.uk/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6571427.E_C_Hibbs

Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00A9X4UK4

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